North Carolina families pursuing fertility treatment have been devastated by the discovery that contaminated Cooper Surgical embryo culture media destroyed their precious embryos and their dreams of parenthood. What should have been a journey toward family building has instead become a nightmare of loss and grief.
In December 2023, Cooper Surgical recalled several lots of embryo culture media after finding dangerous levels of endotoxins—bacterial toxins that proved lethal to developing embryos. For affected families across North Carolina, this recall came too late, after failed IVF cycles had already destroyed their embryos and their hopes.
The impact extends far beyond emotional devastation. Many North Carolina families invested $15,000 to $25,000 per IVF cycle, often without insurance coverage. Women endured weeks of hormone injections, invasive procedures, and physical discomfort—all undermined by a contaminated product that was supposed to nurture new life.
Understanding the IVF Media Contamination Crisis
In the carefully controlled environment of IVF laboratories, embryo culture media serves as the artificial environment that sustains and nourishes embryos during their earliest developmental stages. Cooper Surgical’s products are used by fertility clinics across North Carolina and nationwide to provide essential nutrients and maintain optimal conditions for embryo growth outside the womb.
The contaminated products—identified as lot numbers 231020-018741, 231020-018742, and 231020-018743—contained elevated levels of endotoxins that proved catastrophic to embryo development. These bacterial toxins create conditions that are fundamentally incompatible with embryo survival, typically resulting in complete developmental arrest and embryo death.
The FDA classified this situation as a Class I recall, their most serious designation. Exposure to these products may cause “serious adverse health consequences or death” to embryos. In practical terms, fertility clinics reported alarming failure rates approaching 100% when using the affected media.
For patients, the impact was immediate and devastating. Many experienced the inexplicable failure of all their embryos, with some clinics reporting that not a single embryo survived when cultured in the affected media. Most affected patients had already completed the most challenging parts of the IVF process—including hormone stimulation, egg retrieval, and fertilization—only to have all potential embryos destroyed by the contaminated culture media.
Medical experts confirm that endotoxin exposure is particularly harmful to early embryo development. Embryologists report that embryos exposed to these toxins typically arrest development at an early stage, resulting in complete cycle failure. For many patients, particularly those with diminished ovarian reserve or of advanced maternal age, this loss represented not just a failed cycle but potentially their final opportunity to have biological children.
The Devastating Impact of Defective IVF Media
Patients experienced catastrophic embryo loss rates, often losing every embryo created during their IVF cycle due to the contaminated culture media.
For women with limited remaining fertility, the failed cycle may have permanently eliminated their chance to have biological children.
Learning that embryos were destroyed by contaminated products rather than natural causes compounds the grief experienced by hopeful parents.
North Carolina families typically invested $15,000-$25,000 per IVF cycle, often paying out-of-pocket with no refund options after failure.
Women endured intense hormone treatments and invasive procedures, experiencing physical side effects for ultimately failed cycles.
These impacts represent just some of the hardships faced by North Carolina families affected by Cooper Surgical’s defective IVF media. The Cooper Surgical IVF fluid lawyers at Brent Adams & Associates understand that no compensation can truly make up for your lost opportunity to build your family, but we believe these companies must be held accountable for the immense harm they’ve caused.
Your Legal Rights After IVF Media Failure
North Carolina law holds manufacturers responsible for defective products that cause harm, with contaminated IVF media clearly qualifying as a defective product.
Evidence suggests Cooper Surgical failed to implement adequate quality control procedures that would have detected the endotoxin contamination before distribution.
By providing contaminated culture media, Cooper Surgical breached both express and implied warranties that their products were safe for embryo development.
The company may have failed to promptly notify clinics when contamination was first suspected, allowing more embryos to be destroyed.
North Carolina has strong consumer protection laws that support victims of defective medical products. While this specific type of case—involving embryo culture media—is relatively new to the courts, legal precedent in cases involving reproductive harm provides a foundation for these claims.
Courts have previously recognized the unique nature of reproductive injuries and the profound emotional impact they cause. In similar cases involving defective products that resulted in reproductive harm, courts have awarded substantial damages for both economic losses and emotional distress.
As more affected families come forward, we expect these cases may be consolidated into multidistrict litigation to address common factual questions while preserving each family’s individual claims. This approach allows for more efficient handling of evidence while ensuring that each family’s unique circumstances are considered.
Our North Carolina Cooper Surgical IVF fluid attorneys at Brent Adams & Associates are closely monitoring these legal developments and building strong cases for our clients. We understand the complex and sensitive nature of these claims and are committed to pursuing maximum compensation for affected families.
Do You Have a Valid Cooper Surgical Defective IVF Fluid Claim?
If you underwent IVF treatment in North Carolina between late 2022 and early 2024 and experienced an unexpectedly failed cycle, you may be eligible to file a claim against Cooper Surgical. Our North Carolina Cooper Surgical IVF fluid lawyers can help determine if your case meets the criteria for legal action.
You may qualify for a Cooper Surgical IVF lawsuit if:
- You underwent IVF treatment that failed between late 2022 and early 2024
- Your fertility clinic used culture media from one of these recalled lots:
- LGGG-020: UDI-DI 00815965020044, lot 231020-018741
- LGGG-050: UDI-DI 00815965020051, lot 231020-018742
- LGGG-100: UDI-DI 00815965020068, lot 231020-018743
- You experienced unusual or unexpected embryo development failures
- You received notification from your clinic about the Cooper Surgical recall
- You have documentation of your IVF treatment
Even if you’re uncertain whether contaminated media was used in your treatment, our firm can help investigate. Many North Carolina fertility clinics are now reviewing their records to identify affected patients, but some individuals may remain unaware that their failed cycle was due to contaminated media rather than natural causes.
The impacts of this contamination could have affected various stages of your IVF journey. Whether your embryos failed to develop properly in the laboratory, failed to implant after transfer, or resulted in early pregnancy loss, the defective culture media may have been responsible.
At Brent Adams & Associates, we understand the sensitive nature of these claims and handle each case with compassion and discretion. Our North Carolina Cooper Surgical IVF attorneys have the resources and experience to thoroughly investigate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Moving Forward After IVF Failure
Contact your fertility clinic to confirm if they used any of the recalled Cooper Surgical media lots during your IVF treatment cycle.
Request complete copies of your medical records, lab reports, and all documentation related to your IVF treatment and the products used.
Connect with counseling services and North Carolina support groups experienced in fertility loss to help process your emotional trauma.
North Carolina has time limitations for filing product liability claims, so consulting with a Cooper Surgical IVF lawyer quickly protects your rights.
At Brent Adams & Associates, we understand that taking legal action may feel overwhelming when you’re already coping with the emotional aftermath of a failed IVF cycle. Our compassionate North Carolina Cooper Surgical IVF attorneys will guide you through each step with sensitivity and care, allowing you to focus on healing while we handle the legal complexities.
Verify Your Eligibility Now
If your IVF treatment failed due to contaminated Cooper Surgical media, you deserve answers and compensation. Our North Carolina Cooper Surgical IVF fluid lawyers are ready to evaluate your case and help you understand your options. Our simple eligibility check takes just moments and can be your first step toward accountability.
Don’t wait—time limits apply to these claims, and acting promptly gives you the best chance at recovery.